CHARLIE Kirk’s 97th minute header rescued a vital point for Crewe Alex at Stevenage on Saturday.

The second-half substitute got onto the end of a Harry Pickering cross in the dying seconds to send the travelling supporters into raptures.

It completed a recovery from 2-0 down after a Dean Bowditch double put the home side in command.

Perry Ng’s stunning strike with 10 minutes left got them back into it, and Kirk finished the job.

Crewe are 18th in League Two.

After both sides had enjoyed a free weekend courtesy of the Beast from the East, they both went into the game with reasonable confidence.

Crewe, whose 4-1 win at Lincoln last time out was their best performance and result of the campaign, were able to name an unchanged side.

That was because loan midfielder Paul Green had had a splint fitted to protect his injured right hand to enable him to play.

But an injury to Jamie Sterry meant a reshuffle, with Perry Ng dropping to right-back and Tom Lowery recalled to midfield.

Chris Dagnall was back amongst the subs after nearly two months out with a knee problem.

Stevenage, though having only managed one win in the last six, always have reason to believe at home.

Only three defeats in the league at Broadhall Way all campaign gave boss Darren Sarrl the conviction to say beforehand the hosts ‘expected’ a win, but he was without suspended striker Alex Revell.

Forward Bowditch, on loan from Northampton, and midfielder Ben Sheaf made debuts for the club.

Jordan Bowery, who scored a last minute winner when the sides met at Gresty Road earlier in 2017-18, won the first of two early corners for the Alex as they made a positive start on a bumpy, sandy surface.

Stevenage had offered nothing – until they took the lead on 14 minutes. A delicate ball was lifted over the defence and Bowditch showed a touch of class with a perfect control and laces finish which gave keeper Ben Garratt no chance.

Crewe had been the better of the two sides, but the Stevenage keeper Tom King had still had nothing to do as the 30-minute mark came and went.

On 33 minutes Paul Green’s diagonal found Ng, who cut inside before passing to Lowery, who saw a shot deflected just wide.

Shortly afterwards the visitors went close to a goal of the season contender, when they worked the ball out from deep in their final third with quick and clever passing, moving all the way up the field before Shaun Miller got in shooting range and King was called into action for the first time.

At the other end, on 39 minutes, Ben Wilmot headed just over from a good position after a free-kick was not challenged well by the visitors.

The Alex had a golden chance to level as half-time approached, when Bowery teed up Green and the midfielder curled over with very little pressure on him inside the penalty area.

Crewe started the second half brightly with Callum Ainley at their heart of their good play.

But on 51 minutes it was 2-0. George Ray was easily beaten down the left by Danny Newton and it was squared for an easy tap-in by Bowditch.

Alex manager David Artell reacted by bringing on former Boro man Harry McKirdy for Lowery, while Bowditch came off to a standing ovation

The second goal seemed to suck the life from the visitors, and the home side looked comfortable.

Kirk came on for Ainley, but still there was no response.

Instead, on 75 minutes, Mark McGee was allowed to Waltz down the right and square for Johnny Goddard who somehow did not knock home from close in and Ray hacked clear.

Then a Harry Pickering corner was met by Eddie Nolan only for that header to be cleared off the line.

Dagnall came on for Bowery in the Alex’s final throw of the dice, and out of the blue they got a lifeline.

On 80 minutes Ng cut inside from a crossing position and unleashed a blockbuster of a shot which found the top corner and got the away fans on their feet.

The Alex, though piling on the pressure, struggled to create a clear opportunity until deep into the seven minutes of injury time when Green crossed, Miller headed towards the top corner and King brilliantly clawed it from the top corner.

But in the dying seconds Harry Pickering’s cross to the far post was buried by the head of Kirk to spark celebrations of a vital point.